Springfield Science Museum

Science Museum News

Amazing Butterflies Set to Land at Museums

Springfield Science Museum

May 10, 2013

Every spring, butterflies migrate to New England from their winter homes in Mexico and points south. This spring and summer, the Springfield Science Museum will be the gathering point for more butterflies (and butterfly fans) than usual, thanks to the upcoming special exhibit titled Amazing Butterflies and a live walk-through enclosure titled “The Butterfly House.” Both will be open May 25 through September 2, 2013. MassMutual is the Springfield Museums 2013 Premier Sponsor.

Amazing Butterflies, which was created by the Natural History Museum in London in collaboration with Minotaur Mazes, is an interactive maze experience that allows visitors to explore the world of the butterfly and learn the surprising challenges butterflies face every day. Each station of the maze relates to a different phase of a butterfly’s life cycle, from a caterpillar to a dormant chrysalis and finally to a mature butterfly. As visitors make their way through the maze, they will also be introduced to some of the butterfly’s enemies and the challenges they face in finding food and a mate. Perhaps the most appealing aspect of Amazing Butterflies is that it is designed for both children and adults, allowing families to share in the enjoyment of learning together.

In conjunction with Amazing Butterflies, Science Museum staffers have constructed a live butterfly enclosure appropriately dubbed “The Butterfly House.” As they walk through the House, visitors will be able to view and interact with native species of butterflies like Mourning Cloaks, Question Marks, and Painted Ladies. The Museum will also have mounted specimens of rare butterflies from their collection on display, and will be using native plants from the House to expand butterfly-friendly habitats on the Quadrangle grounds. Rounding out the Museums’ ancillary programs are guided school tours of the exhibit, with interactive activities and gallery games designed to tie the exhibit to the curriculum frameworks.

There is a special exhibition fee of $5 for all visitors ages 3 and up to view Amazing Butterflies in additionto museum admission.